Konoha, Hokage Building.
A sudden commotion erupted, drawing the attention of countless people. They saw it clearly: the legendary ninja of Sunagakure, Pakura, had unexpectedly taken the Kazekage's daughter hostage and fled in a panic.
However, from all directions, Anbu units appeared instantly, blocking every possible exit.
Wood Release: Cutting Technique!
In that instant, under the shocked gazes of everyone, countless wooden stakes sprang up outside the Hokage Building, directly sealing off Pakura's escape route.
Sealing Jutsu: Five Elements Seal
Kushina appeared in a flash. Pakura's pupils trembled as she lowered her head, her expression full of disbelief.
Overwhelmed by pain, Pakura found herself surrounded by six illusions cast by Sharingan users with three tomoe each. At that moment, even the legendary Sannin wouldn't have been able to escape unscathed.
Additionally, she was restrained by Wood Release techniques and Kushina's sealing jutsu.
But to the onlookers, it all happened in the blink of an eye. The powerful jōnin from Sunagakure, Pakura, had been captured just like that.
A jōnin from Iwagakure, witnessing this scene, widened his eyes in disbelief and stammered, "W-W-Wood Release…"
At that moment, not just him—countless other ninjas also saw it.
A masked Konoha ninja had unmistakably used Wood Release.
The surrounding wooden stakes, as if alive, left everyone utterly shocked.
"Konoha has someone with Wood Release!"
"This is the legendary First Hokage's Wood Release!"
"It's real! This Anbu ninja must be from the Senju clan. What about Princess Tsunade?"
Inside and outside the Hokage Building, both Konoha ninjas and those from other villages were filled with astonishment.
Meanwhile, in the Hokage Building, Tsunade, standing behind a glass window and watching everything unfold outside, smiled.
"This appearance of Wood Release should calm the ninja world down for a while."
Next to her, Shirou also chuckled and nodded.
"Indeed. With the reappearance of the Mangekyō Sharingan and Wood Release in Konoha, it will certainly make all the ambitious figures in the ninja world think twice."
Revealing the abilities of Yamato, the Wood Release user, was part of their initial plan.
The major ninja villages would only know that Konoha truly had someone with Wood Release. Whether this Wood Release was as strong as the First Hokage's or not was up to their imagination.
Regardless, it would stir up a renewed wave of Konoha's dominance over the ninja world.
Now that they had this power, not using it to intimidate others would be foolish.
Wood Release + Mangekyō Sharingan—this was a power that surpassed even the Tailed Beasts.
Without shedding a single drop of blood, they could easily intimidate the entire ninja world. To the people of Konoha, this new Hokage was a legend who had brought Konoha back to its position as the number one ninja village.
"This is indeed the fastest and most direct way to calm the ninja world and restore peace along the borders."
Even Tsunade had to admit that the appearance of Wood Release had an enormous impact.
After all, it was the most powerful Kekkei Genkai from the Warring States Period that had brought peace to the chaos.
"Externally, your plan has succeeded. Even though the four other great ninja villages might secretly ally out of fear of Konoha's power, the wounds of war will take at least ten years to heal."
"But internally…" At this point, Tsunade's expression became serious. Her light brown eyes gazed through the window at the far edge of the village, where the Sarutobi clan resided.
"What do you plan to do internally? Over the years, one thing has become undeniable: the development of the Sarutobi, Mitokado, and Utatane clans. Especially the Sarutobi clan—their number of ninjas has reached a level that cannot be ignored!"
When Tsunade mentioned these three clans, her tone was heavy.
Previously, the people of Konoha hadn't noticed this. After all, the Sarutobi clan wasn't reckless—they had integrated their growing members into various departments, making it difficult for others to gauge their true strength.
However, during a recent reorganization of the police and security forces, all the ninjas of these three clans had been gathered in one place. This led to a shocking discovery:
The Sarutobi clan alone had become the largest clan in Konoha, even surpassing most clans in the ninja world in terms of numbers. While their quality might still lag behind, they were now undeniably a major powerhouse.
And with the Mitokado and Utatane clans alongside them, the three clans together had nearly a thousand ninjas!
"Such a massive force is bound to give rise to dangerous ambitions in some people!"
Tsunade lowered her voice, her expression grave. Even she couldn't ignore the sudden emergence of such a powerful faction within the village, especially one that might harbor hostility.
"Are you worried now, Tsunade?"
Hearing Shirou's teasing tone, Tsunade snorted coldly.
"I'm worried they don't know their place!"
Despite all being noble clans, the gap between bloodline clans (like the Senju and Uchiha) and ordinary clans was vast—let alone compared to civilian clans.
This was a difference in quality!
Only a rare genius ninja could bridge the gap between ordinary ninjas and those with Kekkei Genkai.
As Tsunade leaned against the window, looking out over the village, Shirou casually sat back at his desk.
"Tsunade, this is just ambition at play. You're worried that the Sarutobi clan won't accept their diminished status and will start to entertain inappropriate thoughts. That's why this display of Wood Release is also meant to intimidate them internally."
At this, Shirou's expression became thoughtful. He shook his head and said:
"In reality, the entire ninja world operates this way. No one can escape the pursuit of fame and profit. As long as people have desires, the conflict will never truly end—even if the ninja world were unified."
Upon hearing this, Tsunade sighed softly in agreement.
"And so, our ambition is to establish rules. According to the law of the jungle, the strong stand at the top, while ordinary civilians live at the bottom."
Facing this blunt revelation of the ninja world's truth, Shirou nodded solemnly and said:
"Exactly. True peace is established by the strong at the top. For example, whether the ninja world is chaotic or not depends on the Five Great Nations. But what if there was only one voice at the top?"
Tsunade wasn't naïve. This idea had never been so boldly entertained in the ninja world. Even if someone thought of it, they would laugh it off.
Because without absolute power, achieving such unification was impossible. It required not only strength but also time!
How long could one person's lifespan last?
This time, however, things were different. Tsunade fell into deep thought, then said decisively:
"The strong set the rules. Rules bring peace, while chaos arises from a lack of order."
A person's ambition is directly proportional to their strength. Previously, Tsunade wouldn't have viewed the ninja world from such a perspective. But as her power grew and she awakened Wood Release, her perspective changed.
When her grandfather awakened Wood Release, he suppressed the ninja world. Now, with both Wood Release and the Mangekyou Sharingan in their hands, wouldn't it be reasonable for her and Shirou to go even further?
"Shirou, do you think the Sarutobi clan will be intimidated by Wood Release?"
Returning to the earlier topic, Tsunade suddenly seemed interested. She raised her eyebrows and said, "Let's bet on it!"
Oh great!
Seeing Tsunade's eagerness to gamble, Shirou's previously philosophical smile froze instantly.
"Hey, hey, what's with that expression? I'm betting that the Sarutobi clan and its three branches will be intimidated. Just like you said about hatred—over time, they'll accept everything."
Tsunade Senju snorted coldly, but she still maintained an optimistic attitude.
However, Shirou couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth. He had to admit that Tsunade's luck in gambling was truly otherworldly. "Then let's wait and see. But I trust more in the greed of the human heart. Perhaps they'll be intimidated for a while, but as long as they still possess power, greed and discontent will continue to grow."
"Fine! The bet is this: if I lose, at night, whatever you want me to wear, whatever pose you want me to strike, or even if you want me to act out a script, I'll do it!"
Looking at Tsunade's provocative gaze, the stakes of the bet were so high that Shirou narrowed his eyes.
"If I win! Our first two children will take the Senju surname!"
"Ahem, Tsunade, it seems our research has revealed a problem. As life levels increase, the chances of conceiving grow lower..."
"Shut up! Just answer—bet or no bet?"
"Bet!"
As this bet unfolded in the Hokage's office, the outside world was already in an uproar.
The news of Wood Release reappearing in Konoha spread like wildfire across the entire village, leaving the emissaries from various shinobi villages who had gathered in Konoha speechless.
Wood Release! Mangekyo Sharingan!
Both reappearing in Konoha!
At the same time, this news spread rapidly across the shinobi world. Originally, the news from Sunagakure and Kirigakure was more sensational, but it was completely overshadowed by the emergence of Wood Release at this moment, leaving no one interested in the other events.
...
Konoha Prison.
Inside a solitary cell, Terumi Mei, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Sunagakure's Pakura were tightly bound, with sealing talismans suppressing their chakra stuck to their bodies.
"What on earth is going on here?!"
Kisame's hoarse voice rang out, his eyes still filled with confusion. As a ninja, he was competent.
However, hearing Kisame's voice from the next cell, Mei's face was filled with deep-seated hatred.
"We were betrayed by our village!"
Mei's mind worked the fastest, and based on the earlier information, she had already pieced things together. But this realization was the most painful.
Kisame's pupils shrank. He couldn't figure out what value they held that would make their village strike a deal with Konoha.
"In the next cell, Pakura of the Sand Village, it seems you've ended up just like us."
Mei's voice echoed. In the adjacent cell, Pakura, also imprisoned, raised her head, her eyes burning with anger and deep resentment.
"Silence!"
At that moment, outside the prison, Konan's cold figure appeared. The three locked eyes with her, as if awaiting their sentencing.
After all, as ninjas from enemy villages, they had never expected to leave Konoha alive.
Just then, Mikoto and Kushina entered, followed by emissaries from both Kirigakure and Sunagakure.
When the three prisoners saw the emissaries from their respective villages, they each displayed different forms of anger.
"Terumi Mei, Hoshigaki Kisame, you accepted bribes from enemy ninjas and chose to betray your village!"
The emissary from Kirigakure wasted no time. Upon meeting them, his face turned cold, and he loudly rebuked the two.
"The village has thoroughly investigated the matter. Both of you colluded with Pakura from Sunagakure to instigate a war. Your actions are considered a betrayal of the village. As such, the village has decided..."
"You two are hereby classified as rogue ninjas. From now on, you have no connection to the village whatsoever!"
Under the policies of the Bloody Mist, Kirigakure ninjas rarely had bonded with their comrades. This kind of cold behavior—abandoning comrades—had long been commonplace.
Inside the cell, Kisame's pupils dilated as he realized the village had truly betrayed him. His eyes darkened.
He neither argued nor raged. As a ninja, it seemed that his life had suddenly lost all meaning.
"Rogue ninjas..."
At this moment, Mei revealed a mocking expression. She raised her head to look at her fellow Kirigakure ninja and sarcastically remarked:
"If the Bloody Mist policies continue, the village will eventually destroy itself."
Her hoarse voice echoed. However, the Kirigakure emissary, having completed his task, turned toward Mikoto, speaking respectfully:
"We've fulfilled your village's request."
"Samui."
At Mikoto's gentle command, the short-haired blonde kunoichi behind her respectfully retrieved a scroll.
As the seal was undone, the Kubikiribōchō and Kabutowari appeared.
Inside the prison, Mei's face filled with unwillingness as she watched. She had never thought her value would amount to no more than these two ninja swords.
"Pakura!"
As the Sunagakure emissary nervously avoided her gaze, Pakura, trapped in her cell, let out a mocking laugh and jeered:
"It seems the Kirigakure ninjas were traded for two swords. I wonder what my price is?"
Before the Sunagakure emissary could answer, Mikoto smiled warmly, showing no animosity toward the prisoners. Instead, she nodded and replied:
"Pakura, your value is significant. But unfortunately, your village seems to prefer your disappearance, even at the cost of sacrificing the Kazekage's daughter..."
Pakura's face darkened, her expression growing grim. It turned out that Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, considered her a threat.
"Pakura, the legendary hero of Sunagakure, dissatisfied with the Fourth Kazekage, assassinated the Kazekage's daughter in Konoha in an attempt to frame the village and start a war. The facts have been verified. Sunagakure has officially classified you as an S-rank rogue ninja!"
Beside her, Konan calmly delivered the cruel verdict.
Once a village declares someone a rogue ninja, there is almost no turning back.
"Pakura-sama, I... I was just following orders..."
The Sunagakure emissary stammered, his eyes darting about, not daring to look at the former hero of his village.
In the prison, the proceedings for declaring the three as rogue ninjas concluded.
Finally, in front of the three prisoners, the emissaries negotiated their respective terms.
"For the remaining ninja swords of Kirigakure, we'll wait until our Hokage officially takes office."
"As for Sunagakure, we will agree to sign a peace and non-aggression treaty..."
With that, the Sunagakure emissary hurriedly fled the scene in disgrace, while the Kirigakure emissary, more focused on benefits, showed no remorse for betraying his comrades.
After all, in Kirigakure's academy graduation exams, students were required to kill their closest friends.
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